Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-68
For the person mentioning misfire on cylinder #2, I have had a few problems related to this (as well as many other problems with this van). I once had this same code and the spark plug was fouled. The gap was totally filled with carbon. Replaced the plug and all was fine.
I had another, much more expensive, related problem. Rough running, heavy smell of fuel, and eventually and engine light. When the light came on it turned out my ECM had died. I replaced it and it ran well for about a month, then the same thing again with another failed ECM. Making the story short, it turned out that all of the inuslation had been eaten away somehow at a low spot on my fuel injector wire harness. This caused the transistor to blow in the ECM. ECM is about $750 new if you do it yourself.
SO if your plug looks good in cylinder two, checking the wire harness may not be a bad idea.
BTW, I've also had many of the mentioned problems here as well as a failed tranny computer (about $300 if replaced yourself.
I own a Dodge Grand Caravan Sport. I bought this new in '01 with the extended warranty... just in case! Wow was the "just in case" ever right!
I have had numerous problems starting with a dead battery at 2000 miles (dealer replaced free), then the fun really began...
The air compressor failed at 5000 miles.
An oil leak at 5000 miles, and again at 6000 miles, both under warranty.
The power window motors on both sides have been replaced so many times I lost count after 12.. I don't even use them anymore!
As of late, the transmission just got replaced for the 3rd time!!! And only after 1000 miles were put on it.. I talked to the dealer to reduce the price ($3700.) to a verbal on the phone agreement to $1300.00... my mistake for not taking the time to get it in writing! When I went to pick it up I paid $1650.00 + tax ($1785.00); they had the nerve to tell me I mis-understood the estimate... funny though.. I am not deaf!!
I have just wrote a formal complaint to Chrysler corporate to express my dissatisfaction and will never buy Dodge again.. EVER!!! The irony is the 2008 Caravan comes with a lifetime power train warranty... why you ask? Because their design is flawed... they can't fix it and they know they're at fault!
Hi Yes you may think I am crazy to ask, but does anyone want to sell their van? e-mail isabel at hady2@verizon.net. Looking for 2002 or newer.
I have a 2002 Grand Caravan with 75000. The first 3 years were great, but then the problems started. I have had the same problem with brakes and rotors needing to be replaced and the sway bar bushings. The AC compressor went on me and now I have noise from the rear wheels, rear bearings, I'm sure. Plus the car has been in and out of the dealer for side and rear door problems. Even with the warranty it still costs $100 a visit and they always seem to find another issue that costs me big bucks. The worst thing though was when the rear heater line started to leak. I took it back and was told it was considered a hose (even though it was metal) and it cost me about $500 to replace. The service department is awful and I will never, ever buy another Dodge vehicle!!
I have a 2002 Grand Caravan. I also have the front end noise. I find the sway bar info very interesting, I will check this out.
I am also having a problem where I am getting heat only from the driver side vents with the A/C on. This problem started when I went to trim the A/C with the heat slide switch, so something must have gotten stuck. I am having trouble locating info on the make up of this system. Does this vehicle have a heater valve; if not, how is the flow of water through the heater coil controlled, or how is heat delivered to the passenger compartment? Any info or direction on where to get this info would be appreciated.
Thanks.
I own a 2002 Dodge Caravan SE. It has about 115,000 miles on it. I scanned over most of the comments on here to see if my specific problem was mentioned, but I don't believe it was. The other day, I was driving down the road at about 55 mph. It wasn't exceptionally windy, the weather was fine. All of a sudden, I heard what sounded like a big balloon popping in the back of the inside of the van. I looked in the rear view mirror in time to see glass spraying across the inside of the van. I nearly drove off the road. My back passenger-side window (the one I can open manually to vent) had imploded into the car. The vent was not open at the time of the implosion. I have NO idea why this happened, at all! What I do know is that this is the second time one of the windows mysteriously shattered. The first window that broke was the back windshield about a year and a half ago. On that occasion, I got into the vehicle, shut my driver's side door no harder than usual, and the back windshield completely shattered. I hadn't even turned the car on yet, let alone started moving. I looked the other way on that occasion. Weird things happen, whatever. However, this latest instance shook me up pretty badly, especially since there was no apparent reason for that to have happened. I won't be looking the other way this time...I'm just very grateful there was no one sitting in the back of the van when this happened. Has anyone had anything like this happen to them with their Caravan? Any ideas as to what could've happened? In the meantime, I guess I'll just wait and see which window blows in next, and hopefully it won't be the front windshield while I'm driving. Thanks for reading!
The same thing happened to my parents while they were driving their 1997 Mercury Sable station wagon --- one of the rear windows just spontaneously imploded while driving down the road! It's either just one of those weird things, or maybe a semi kicked up a stone at high speed, or maybe some psycho shot it. Who knows? Point is, I don't think it's an actual "Caravan problem."
I bought a 2002 Caravan SE at 10,000 miles.
The transmission blew at 38,000 miles.
The motor mounts and catalytic converter had to be replaced at about 65,000 miles.
I have done excellent maintenance on this vehicle, including engine flushes, regular oil changes, check on fluids, recently hoses and back shocks and sway bar bushings were replaced.
During my entire ownership of this car (it is now at 93,000 miles) it constantly has a front end problem, and the shuttering steering wheel problem. It sounds absolutely horrible over bumps and speed bumps (I always drive over them carefully anyway). It squawks very loudly. People have asked me many times what is wrong with my Caravan, out of concern.
I can't get the dealerships to fix this problem. First they said the horn caps needed lubing. That didn't work. Then they said the left controller arm was 1/4 turn loose, and tightened that. That seemed to work, but now has come back.
I am terribly afraid that the lower left controller arm is loose again. I don't take it on the freeway anymore, worrying that the controller arm will fall away and I will lose control of the steering. I can't get help on this. I drive a small child to school in this Caravan. I feel trapped into not being able to provide her with safe transportation, since all my money was already sunk into fixing this van.
I have a 2000 Dodge Sport Van, 3.3 engine.
I am experiencing a roaring sound from my right front area. I thought it was brakes, I changed brakes.
I thought it was tires, I bought new tires.
The noise is annoying. It causes anxiety for me and my passengers who begin to think that something is terrible is going to happen.
I will get another low pitch sound if I slightly turn the steering wheel left or right.
One mechanic says it's a bearing in the drive line to the transmission and the transmission has to be replaced, appx. $2,500.00 (that's probably used). He said to keep driving it until the transmission goes out.
It is over a year since this has happened, I find it hard to believe it is the transmission. It shifts okay, I get good gas mileage, and my engine runs smoothly in idle or on the freeway.
Another mechanic says it's a drive line.
Another mechanic says it might be the right front wheel hub's bushings or bearings.
I read your articles and now it seems the majority causes of the noise is the strut or pinions.
Any ideas? Bushings, Bearings, Hubs, pinions, drive line...
I like the van, but you know if I had to do it all over, I would have never got hooked on a van. I can't believe all these problems from a Dodge (Chrysler Corp.)
No wonder American Auto Mfgr. are going under.
I had a loud "roaring" sound from front end of 2001 Grand Caravan as well. First I thought it was something wrong with the transmission, but then I noticed that when I weaved back and forth it got louder on the side the van pitched toward, and quieter on the side pitching up with less weight. It came from both sides while driving straight. I bought new front wheel bearings for about $60 each, installed them and it drives great now. I'd suggest you listen carefully when you change lanes and see if it gets more or less pronounced on one side or the other before you believe all of the mixed diagnosis-es or go spending a bunch on a new tranny. Also, don't leave it go any longer if you think it may be just bearings. This uncorrected can cause damage to other parts... or so I've been told. And, I can't tell you how happy my wife is now that her car is quiet.
When my 2002 Grand Caravan Sport is not having problems, it is great to drive... I have driven it in Germany as well as the States...unfortunately, the dealer's servicing of my van leaves a lot to be desired in both countries. So far, I have had the following replaced in 60,000 miles of driving:
Transmission at 26K
Power steering pump twice
Rear brakes once
Front brakes twice
Driver side electric windows
Power passenger sliding door
Sway bars
Front wheel bearings
After van was in "alignment", front passenger tired wore through to bands after only 3000 miles - have replaced tires on van completely 4 times - averaging 15000 miles per set of tires with rotation
Whole front end suspension
After all of this, I still get grinding noises and creaks from front end - still have extended warranty for 2 months, but dealer refuses to acknowledge anything is wrong with front end... vehicle doesn't cooperate as it stops making noise when I take it in
Dealer gave me an estimate (I know it is an estimate), but when I got the bill, it was $500 higher... I worked it out with manager and we split the difference
I would not buy another one - I will buy Asian and I hope Chrysler/Dodge fails in America.
UK owner RG 2002 Grand Voyager 2.5CRD Diesel 102000 miles owned since new. Love it but not without faults. Rear Crank oil seal fail at 54000 miles- done on warranty. Normal Brakes/rotors - but that's normal even for previous cars (BMW). Recently knock on drive take up - hopefully not gearbox, maybe drive shaft or engine mount I hope. ABS light on. As yet not taken to dealer. Knock at back - maybe bushes. Wheel bearing noise (all of them I think).and front knock due to roll bar bushes and normally replaced every 18 months due to country roads - but £12/pair and 15 minutes to replace so no problem.
Wheel bearings £100 each, drive shaft say £100 each. I'm not a mechanic but very good DIY. Dealer service is rubbish - tried 3 different garages - all jacked car up in wrong place and it needed body shop repair. I'd buy another if not Auto and I do not like new shape - looks like a van.
So looking for something else instead.
2002 Grand Caravan EX.
This car was purchased new and has been a giant pain ever since.
The #5 cylinder exploded at 45K miles. I was lucky it was under warranty since it was $6000 fix.
I replaced the sliding door motors 4 times and the rear power door motor twice as well as the driver and passenger window motors.
The power steering pump along with the addition of an extra hose to the power steering pump to fix a "design flaw" per the stealership.
The front end is always a mess:
From the sway bar to other assorted parts giving out very soon after they have been replaced. Oh and motor mounts, let's not forget those.
I have given up on this car. It is paid for and I'm done putting money into it. When the car dies, so will my connection to all things Chrysler/Dodge.
No company or car is perfect, but it won't take much to be better than Dodge.
Hello - I came across this site looking for some brake pads for a family member who owns a 2002 Grand Caravan. I read all the comments and can only say "wow".
He most recently had the water pump replaced and he's aware of a bad bearing in the alternator. The extent and full history of issues (if any) is unknown to me, but here's what I think...
Dodge Chrysler, GM, and Ford have been selling us junk since sometime in the 70's. It's difficult for me to have a full appreciation to the extent and amount of junk during the 70's due to my age; however, since sales of junk continued into the 80's, I was able to appreciate the knowledge of the junk more- particularly into the late 80's. Please don't ask me how I know about the junk sold during the 70's since according to my own admission, I was too young to know first hand. I believe there are some things people just "know" inherently, things you don't need to be told, things you simply know to be true, period.
Considering the amount of junk sold, by the Big 3, and the relative intelligence factor of humans, I'm shocked they've managed to survive this long, but I'm not a business person and maybe their business model permits them to sell junk for generations on end before ultimately and sadly, just ceasing to do business...
Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not implying that other automobile manufactures don't or haven't produced junk- most probably have... Porsche had the 924's, Ferrari's early Mondial 8, and so on...
But, here's what I know. I wouldn't purchase junk knowingly unless it was the only option. With the same thought, I wouldn't produce junk and expect to successfully sell it unless I was selling to those who didn't know better or simply didn't care.
So, which is it- you all didn't know better, had no other options, or didn't care? I'm curious, that's all...
I wouldn't purchase one is all I'm saying... If past experience can dictate future behavior, I probably won't ever purchase one, even if they do manage to keep from going insolvent in the coming years. Here's my experience:
1980 Toyota Cressida- ~280,000 miles. Car was given to me from family. Apparently, the windshield wipers didn't work the day it was driven off the lot, but the biggest problem was with cooling system at almost 200,000 miles, which was fixed. Car was donated when transmission started failing ~280,000 miles.
1992 Toyota Celica- ~185,000 miles. Had a bad cooling system around 100,000 miles, which fixed that. About 160,000 miles would not stay in 5th gear (currently need to hold it in that gear). Two motor leaks and bad motor mounts round out the current list of current problems and that have happened over the years... Clutch is getting pretty soft, but still drive the car and it passes the smog test every year.
2006 Toyota Rav4- ~36,000 miles. Clunking sound in steering column area, but fixed under warranty. Still drive car, no other issues.
2002 Porsche Boxster- ~60,000 miles. No problems.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts: dsamaniego@gmail.com.
"18th Apr 2009, 13:32.
He most recently had the water pump replaced and he's aware of a bad bearing in the alternator. The extent and full history of issues (if any) is unknown to me, but here's what I think...
Dodge Chrysler, GM, and Ford have been selling us junk since sometime in the 70's. It's difficult for me to have a full appreciation to the extent and amount of junk during the 70's due to my age; however, since sales of junk continued into the 80's, I was able to appreciate the knowledge of the junk more- particularly into the late 80's. Please don't ask me how I know about the junk sold during the 70's since according to my own admission, I was too young to know first hand. I believe there are some things people just "know" inherently, things you don't need to be told, things you simply know to be true, period."
Maybe you don't know as much as you think. My family has owned Dodges, and more recently Fords, Mercuries, and Chevrolets that were purchased used at 5-10 years old, generally with nearly 100,000 miles or more on them. Our cars of the 1970s:
1971 Dodge Charger
1971 Plymouth Barracuda
1973 Dodge Charger
1974 Dodge Monaco
1975 Dodge Charger
1976 Plymouth Volare
1977 Plymouth Volare
1977 Dodge Tradesman.
Were all really good vehicles. They were dependable and didn't give us any problems. Most were bought with nearly 100,000 miles for less than $1,000 and we kept them for another 100,000 miles. Sorry, no crap there, and whoever tells you different must have been driving something else. In fact, we are STILL driving the Chargers and Barracuda. The rest were bought to be workhorses and runabouts, and they served that purpose admirably.
Our cars of the 1980s:
1980 Plymouth Volare
1983 Chevy Cavalier
1984 Plymouth Reliant
1985 Dodge Ramcharger
1989 Chevy Van 20.
Were also good cars and very dependable, though the Cavalier was quite cheap. We bought each one for less than three thousand dollars (Cavalier for $275) with nearly 100,000 miles, and drove them to over 200,000 miles with no problems. The Ramcharger was bought with 163,000 miles on it, and I drove it for another 11 years! Once again, wherever you "learned" that American cars of the 1980s were junk, you were obviously driving something different than us.
Our cars of the 1990s:
1992 Pontiac 6000
1993 Cadillac Seville STS
1997 Mercury Sable.
Were also great cars. We bought the Pontiac for $350 and drove it until the transmission locked up at 240,000 miles. We bought the Cadillac for $1,300 and drove it with zero repairs until 180,000 miles. We are STILL driving the Mercury with 190,000 and it has NEVER needed a repair. Still not sure where your American crap cars of the '90s are, but we didn't own them.
Our cars of the 2000's are:
2002 Ford Explorer
2008 Cadillac Deville.
The Ford has 104,000 miles and has never needed a single repair. Ever. The Cadillac is too new, and it goes without saying that nothing has gone wrong.
I'm interested, truly, what are the cars that you have specifically owned that led you to this erroneous belief that American cars are crap? I can't believe they were any of the cars that my family owned. Either your family has not chosen wisely, or doesn't know how to treat a car.